Snap fastener crimping tool



May 12, 1964 J. L. KAHN 3,132,343

SNAP FASTENER C'RIMPING TOOL Filed April 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JEROME L. KAI-IN fl e-2 W Arforneys y 12, 1964 J. L. KAHN 3,132,343

SNAP FASTENER CRIMPING TOOL.

Filed April 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JEROME L. KAHN Attorneys FIG.

United States Patent 3,132,343 SNAP FASTENER CRIMPING TOOL Jerome L. Kahn, 4134 Stiilmore Road, Cleveland 21, 01110 Filed Apr. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 184,921 2 Claims. (Cl. 1-317) This invention relates to tools for crimping together pairs of snap fastener elements of diiferent outside diameters to fix such pairs of elements to fabric and the like. Such pairs of elements together may constitute either the male or female half of a complete snap fastener.

Such pairs of snap fastener elements making up either the male or female half of the snap fastener are commonly shaped with slightly diiferent outside diameters. The element in each such pair which forms the female socket or the male plug commonly has a slightly greater outside diameter than the element in each such pair which serves solely as a clamping element for performing the function of afiixation and anchoring the male plug or female socket element.

There have heretofore been provided a variety of types of tools for crimping together such pairs of snap fastener elements which have difierent outside diameters. Among such tools, a common type is shaped much as a pair of pliers and comprises a pair of jaws and a pair of handles pivoted to each other and each fixed to one of the jaws with crimping dies carried between the jaws. Such crimping dies are commonly capable of crimping together either a male or female snap fastener element and its cooperating anchoring or affixing element.

In this connection, it is necessary that in order for the tools to be acceptable the dies must be capable of temporarily supporting the pairs of snap fastener elements in opposed relation to each other before the dies are fully brought together to perform the crimping operation and thereby affix the pair of snap fastener elements to fabric or the like.

The present invention relates to tools of the above type in which the pair of crimping dies is adapted to perform all of the aobve functions but wherein each die comprises a single integrally molded element. In one crimping tool, according to this invention, each die element is substantially identical. In another crimping tool, according to this invention, the die elements are different in design to perform different functions. In either case, however, each die is a one-piece, integrally molded element.

Examples of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a snap fastener tool embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale taken from the plane of line 2-2 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a detail sectional View on an enlarged scale taken from the plane of line 33 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a view taken from the plane of the line 4-4 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a view taken from the plane of line 5-5 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of another snap fastener tool embodying the invention.

FIGURE 7 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale taken from the plane of the line 7-7 in FIG- URE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale taken from the plane of the line 88 in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 9 is a view taken from the plane of line 9-9 in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 10 is a view taken from the plane of line Iii-10 in FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 11 is a perspective View of an annular afiixing or anchoring element adapted to form part of a pair of snap fastener elements mounted on fabric or the like, which pair of snap fastener elements is in turn adapted to act as a complete snap fastener.

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of a male snap fastener element adapted to be crimped together with the element shown in FIGURE 11 onto a piece of fabric or the like.

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of a female snap fastener element adapted to be crimped together with the element shown in FIGURE 11 onto a piece of fabric or the like.

It will be understood that the elements shown in FIG- URES 11-13 are old and well known. They are illustrated here for the purpose of helping to explain the significance of the structural features of the present invention.

The tool illustrated in FIGURES 1-5 of the drawings comprises a pair of jaws 10 and 11 and a pair of handles 12 and 13 pivoted to each other at 14 and each fixed to one of the jaws 1t and 11. A pair of crimping dies generally indicated by the reference numerals 15 and 16 is carried between the jaws ltl and 11 with each member of such pair 15, 16 being carried on its own one of the jaws 1t) and 11.

The pair of crimping dies 15, 16 each comprises a single integrally formed die element having a central cylindrical forming portion 17 and a pair of arcuate gripping portions 18. The dies 15 and 16 may be molded from Zytel nylon or the like. Each member of the pair 15, 16 is rigidly supported on its own one of the jaws 10 and 11 by being received in an opening formed in the central wall 19 of the jaws 10 and 11 and by being swaged against the inner side of the jaws 10 and 11 as at 20.

The arcuate gripping portions 18 of each die member project beyond the face of the associated central forming portion 17 and are substantially perpendicular to the face of the portion 17. The inside diameter of the arcuate gripping portions 18 is slightly less than the outside diameter of the elements shown in FIGURES 12 and 13 and at least one of the pair of crimping dies 15, 16 has gripping portions 18 which have an inside diameter that is slightly less than the outside diameter of the element shown in FIGURE 11.

The central forming portion 17 is provided with an axial bore 211 which receives the projection of the male element shown in FIGURE 12. Thus, the element shown in FIGURE 12 may be inserted into either member of the pair of crimping dies 15, 16. Since the arcuate gripping portions 18 have an inner diameter which is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the element shown in FIGURE 12, the portions 18 will be forced apart slightly to clamp the member in the die. The element shown in FIGURE 13 may also be inserted into either member of the pair of crimping dies 15, 16 since its outside diameter is slightly larger than the inside diameter of the arcuate gripping portions 18. The portions 18 will also be forced apart slightly to clamp this member in the die.

As was stated previously, at least one of the pair of crimping dies 15, 16 has gripping portions 18 which have an inside diameter that is slightly less than the outside diameter of the element shown in FIGURE 11. This arrangement allows at least one of the pair of crimping dies 15, 16 to clampingly engage the element of FIGURE 11 in the same manner that the elements of FIGURES l2 and 13 are clamped.

As may be seen from FIGURES 1, 4, and 5, each memi ber of the pair 15, 16 is rigidly afiixed on its own one of the jaws 1i) and 11 so that the gripping portions 18 of 3 the pair 15, 16 are out of angular register with each other upon closing the jaws and 11.

The tool illustrated in FIGURES 6-10 of the drawings comprises a pair of jaws 10a and 11a which have handles (not shown) pivoted together. The plier-type arrangement of this portion of the tool is similar to that shown in FIGURE 1. A pair of crimping dies generally indicated by the reference numerals 15a and 16a is carried between the jaws 10a and 11a with each member of such pair 15a, 16a being carried on its own one of the jaws 10a and 11a. The dies 15a and 16a may be molded from Zytel nylon or the like.

Each member of the pair 15a, 16a is rigidly supported on its own one of the jaws 10a and 11a being received in an opening formed in the central wall 19a of the jaws 10a and 11a and by being swaged against the inner side of the jaws 10a and 11a as at 20a.

The crimping die 15a has an axial projection 22 which has an outside diameter which is slightly larger than the inside diameter of the annular anchoring element shown in FIGURE 11. Thus the anchoring element shown in FIGURE 11 may he slipped over the projection 22 and be securely held by friction. The teeth of the anchoring element shown in FIGURE 11 extend beyond the face of the projection 22 so that the teeth will penetrate the fabric and register with its male or female snap fastener element during a crimping operation. If desired, a slot 23 may be provided in the projection 22 to increase the frictional contact between the projection 22 and the anchoring element.

The crimping die 16a has an annular shoulder 24 on its top surface which will engage the face of the elements shown in FIGURES 12 and 13 to hold in axial alignment with the anchoring element when these elements are crimped to a piece of fabric. An axial bore 25 is also provided in the die 16a to aid in the positioning of the element shown in FIGURE 12 when this element is to be crimped to the anchoring element.

The invention is not limited to the slavish imitation of each and every one of the details described above which have been set forth merely by way of example with the intent of most clearly setting forth the teaching of the invention. Obviously devices may be provided which change, eliminate or add certain specific structural details without departing from the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In tools for crimping together pairs of snap fasteners having different outside diameters to thereby afiix said pairs of snap fastener elements to fabric and the like, a pair of jaws, a pair of handles pivoted to each other and each fixed to its own one of said jaws, a pair of crimping dies carried between said jaws with each memher of said pair of crimping dies being carried on its own one of said jaws, said pair of crimping dies comprising altogether two elements, each of said elements having a central forming portion and diametrically opposed arcuate gripping portions, each of said central forming portions having a flat top surface and an axial bore in said surface, each of said axial bores having an inside diameter which substantially corresponds to the outside diameter of a projecting portion of a male snap fastener element, said arcuate gripping portions extending substantially perpendicular beyond said top surface and having an inside diameter which is slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the largest snap fastener element to be gripped thereby, at least one of said pair of crimping dies having arcuate gripping portions which have an inside diameter that is slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the smallest snap fastener element to be gripped thereby, each member of said pair of dies being carried on its own one of said jaws so that said projecting arcuate gripping portions are out of angular register with the gripping portions of the other member of said pair.

2. In tools for crimping an annular anchoring element to an element of a pair of snap fastener elements to thereby afiix said pair to fabric and the like, a pair of jaws, a pair of handles pivoted to each other and each fixed to one of said jaws, a pair of crimping dies carried between said jaws with each member of said crimping dies being carried on its own one of said jaws, said pair of crimping dies comprising altogether two elements, one of said dies having an axial projection for engaging an inside surface of said annular anchoring element, said axial projection having an outside diameter which is slightly larger than the inside diameter of said inside surface, the other of said dies having a top surface defining an outwardly projecting annular shoulder for engaging and retaining the recessed face of male and female snap fastener elements and an axial bore for receiving and retaining the projecting portion of a male snap fastener element thereon in axial alignment with said anchoring element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,142,797 Burrell June 15, 1915 2,920,325 Janes Jan. 12, 1960 3,019,442 Hoeckele Feb. 6, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 398,086 France Mar. 15, 1909 311,925 Great Britain May 23, 1929 

1. IN TOOLS FOR CRIMPING TOGETHER PAIRS OF SNAP FASTENERS HAVING DIFFERENT OUTSIDE DIAMETERS TO THEREBY AFFIX SAID PAIRS OF SNAP FASTENER ELEMENTS TO FABRIC AND THE LIKE, A PAIR OF JAWS, A PAIR OF HANDLES PIVOTED TO EACH OTHER AND EACH FIXED TO ITS OWN ONE OF SAID JAWS, A PAIR OF CRIMPING DIES CARRIED BETWEEN SAID JAWS WITH EACH MEMBER OF SAID PAIR OF CRIMPING DIES BEING CARRIED ON ITS OWN ONE OF SAID JAWS, SAID PAIR OF CRIMPING DIES COMPRISING ALTOGETHER TWO ELEMENTS, EACH OF SAID ELEMENTS HAVING A CENTRAL FORMING PORTION AND DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED ARCUATE GRIPPING PORTIONS, EACH OF SAID CENTRAL FORMING PORTIONS HAVING A FLAT TOP SURFACE AND AN AXIAL BORE IN SAID SURFACE, EACH OF SAID AXIAL BORES HAVING AN INSIDE DIAMETER WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY CORRESPONDS TO THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF A PROJECTING PORTION OF A MALE SNAP FASTENER ELEMENT, SAID ARCUATE GRIPPING PORTIONS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR BEYOND SAID TOP SURFACE AND HAVING AN INSIDE DIAMETER WHICH IS SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF THE LARGEST SNAP FASTENER ELEMENT TO BE GRIPPED THEREBY, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PAIR OF CRIMPING DIES HAVING ARCUATE GRIPPING PORTIONS WHICH HAVE AN INSIDE DIAMETER THAT IS SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF THE SMALLEST SNAP FASTENER ELEMENT TO BE GRIPPED THEREBY, EACH MEMBER OF SAID PAIR OF DIES BEING CARRIED ON ITS OWN ONE OF SAID JAWS SO THAT SAID PROJECTING ARCUATE GRIPPING PORTIONS ARE OUT OF ANGULAR REGISTER WITH THE GRIPPING PORTIONS OF THE OTHER MEMBER OF SAID PAIR. 